Ford's Renaissance Man

The CEO's obsession with Power Point slides seems odd. But with Toyota under fire and Ford on the verge of overtaking GM in sales, it's nothing to laugh at.

By

Paul Ingrassia

Updated Feb. 27, 2010 6:42 p.m. ET

Dearborn, Mich.

It's a typical February scene in suburban Detroit. Snow is falling for the third straight day, and the accumulation is visible from the panoramic view of Ford Motor Co.'s executive suite. Consumer-confidence numbers—the best predictor of car sales—are plunging. In Washington, Toyota officials are getting a congressional grilling...